(VGP – 09/03/2012) - The 7th meeting on Cooperation and Development between border provinces of Cambodia and Viet Nam was held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 9 to strengthen the two countries’ relationship.

At the meeting, the two sides expressed their satisfaction with the relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia and highly valued the coordination between ministries, agencies and localities of the two nations.

Two-way trade turnover between the two countries reached more than US $2.8 billion in 2011, a surge of 55% compared to 2010.

The meeting also focused on discussing ways and measures to boost cooperation between border provinces to meet the two sides’ demands for development and celebrate the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2012.

The participants were unanimous in launching newly-signed agreements, completing preferential policies and mechanisms and encouraging trade exchanges between border localities to increase the two countries’ two-way trade turnover to US $5 billion in the next five years.

The two countries will push up cooperation in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries, health care, human resources training, as well as in improving border infrastructure and fighting transnational crime.